Page 11 of Perilous

A part of my mind is actually thinking about some stupid financial statement analysis work as Molly takes my hand and leads the way into a nightclub. This is my anxiety manifesting as guilt. My anxiety is that I hate clubs. I hate crowds. I secretly have an intense case of claustrophobia to the point where I don’t like closing a bathroom stall door. Now it’s never turned into some kind of full blown panic attack, at least not yet.

I should have definitely drank the entire coffee cup of vodka. Being buzzed or drunk helps with the anxiety.

Once we’re in the nightclub I cling to Molly like a jealous hookup. She goes right to the bar.

The next drink has plenty of vodka in it but it’s mixed with something fruity and sugary.

“Okay, we’ve got one looking already,” Molly says to me. “Four seats down. He’s going to buy us a drink. Then we can find out what his friends look like. Pick our poison.”

“Whoa, Molly, wait a second,” I say over the loud, thumping music that’s flirting with my anxiety. “I’m not here to—”

Molly spins right around and leans toward the bar and waves to the man she pointed out.

Fuck.

I mean, this is no shock at all. Molly loves to drink and sleep with guys.

“I thought we were celebrating me,” I say to Molly over her shoulder.

“Oh, we are,” Molly says from the corner of her mouth. “I’m going to make sure you get some great dick before you flee the country.”

I look at the bartender, who is cute as hell and smirking at me. I nod at my glass.

The music changes to another song and the intro is really fast thumping which is then mixed with some sort of strobe light effect of a bunch of colors. My stomach instantly does a flip and I feel like I’m going to puke. Now that would be a story to have forever.

One drink—well, two if you count that one back at my place—and I’m getting sick?

This is why I need to get out of here. Not just this nightclub. But alsoSAand the country. I need to travel, study, and hook up with gorgeous men across the globe.

I’m like Molly in some sense, but it’s just that maybe my vagina is a little more sophisticated.

I try not to laugh. And puke. I make it into the bathroom and stand at one of the sinks. I run the cold water and let it touch my fingertips. The cool sensation allows me to take deep breaths and calm down.

The sugar from the drink does not seem to be sitting well right now. I cup my hands under the water and take a drink. The door opens a few seconds later.

“Annika?” I hear Molly’s voice ask.

She turns the corner, sees me and exhales a breath.

“Are you okay? What happened to you? Did you throw up?”

“I didn’t throw up,” I say. “I just felt… overwhelmed. The music. And the sugar in that drink…”

“See? That’s why I like drinking stuff without mixing it.”

“Yeah, you’ve cracked the code on that one.”

“Huh?” Molly asks.

I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m sorry. I feel like I’m ruining the night already. We should just—”

“He thinks you’re cute,” Molly says with an evil smile. “They both do.”

“They?”

“Bartender,” Molly says. “That means we can drink all night for free. The other guy who thinks you’re cute? The one looking at us. You and me. That’s what he wants. Tonight.”

“Wait. What?”

---